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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rest · row · wax · mouse · lash · key · bulb · rock

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. row — a line
  4. rest — what's left
  5. wax — to grow
  6. key — for a lock
  7. rock — a stone
  8. key — in music
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — music
  17. rest — a break
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. row — to paddle
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com